The Christie's Auction of 10/8/2008

[Greg Stec]

The Gibson mandolins for the upcoming Christie's Auction.
I have no interest AT ALL in ANY of this.
Just passing the news.
http://www.christies.com/LotFinder/s...ectedids=23929

Greg

CORRECTION: The auction is 10/10/2008. SRI

[mrmando]

Wowsers.

Kind of a low estimate on that Fern, don't you think? Shouldn't it go for more like $80-100K?

[Mark Seale]

That will be an interesting auction to follow. There is also a Henderson guitar that may be a bit undervalued.

[Greg Stec]

How 'bout the '31 Gibson TB-6 (tenor banjo) hoping to get between $20K-$30K. It's a stunner, but wow!

Remember, the prices are what "the experts" -in their best, conservative opinion- is what THEY proclaim the item will draw. Nobody's gonna know how the bidding will go until it happens.

It's gonna be interesting.

As for me, I'd like to take a stab at either the Eric Clapton Martin or one of the "cheaper" Roy Rogers Martins.

Dream, dream, dream.
Greg

[Glassweb]

Kind of a low estimate on that Fern, don't you think? Shouldn't it go for more like $80-100K?[/QUOTE]

A low estimate indeed. I find this Fern very interesting... a much lighter finish than is typical for this era and none of the typical lacquer crazing/degradation. My own belief (without seeing it in person however...) is that this may be one case where a varnish finish was custom ordered on a post-Loar instrument. I've been told by an expert on Gibson instruments that this was certainly done from time to time. If that's the case (and I don't have any first-hand proof that it is), this particular Fern would be a grand catch for the winning bidder.

[JEStanek]

My anecdotal knowledge of auctions like this are from seeing Skinner's catalogue with lower numbers than the instruments go for during the actual auction. I wonder who is doing the appraisals.

Jamie

[Michael Gowell]

I agree with Jamie - these estimates are deliberately lowballed in order to draw more bidders, some of whom will get the bit in their teeth and buy at the usual high auction prices. Nice clean instruments, though - perhaps a Cafe poster will see them in person and give us a report.

[Links]

Did anyone see what these instruments went for? All (or practically anyway) of the "big" auction houses, in my opinion, are a little on the shady side - particularly when in comes to condition reports (or lack therof). The fcat that most of the new Martins are directly from Martin, and being sold for charity gives this auction a little more credibility, but I would not bid on any of their stuff unless I had seen it in person.

If you want to see how these auction houses work, just go to Google and type in the name of the auction house and "legal problems", trouble, etc. You will see some interesting stories about collusion, commsion fixing, shady lending practices, etc.

[Glassweb]

The auction is actually on Friday the 10th...

[Darryl Wolfe]

I am familiar with the fern. It is nice and light in color, but it is lacquer. Overall it is very nice. Glassweb, it was once owned simultaneously by a fellow that owned "that other Fern" and my current Loar. The curious aspect is that it has 2 Master Model labels on top of each other. One peeks out just a little bit.

[Glassweb]

Thanks for the info about the finish Darryl... I imagine it's quite lovely in person...

[BradKlein]

I played the fern yesterday and spoke a bit with Kerry Keane who heads that department.

I thought it was a lovely sounding instrument, and that finish is fascinating. Just a bit of wear on the neck, and I had to ask Kerry if he was dead certain that it was really original lacquer, and never refinished.

I noticed the double labels (there are also some numbers in pencil that seem to have been written through the sound hole). Both are loosely attached, and would seem to be removable through the f hole and seperated by someone with experience with old paper, if the owner desired.

[Darryl Wolfe]

Any chance you could get the F5Journl/Mandolinarchivce some good pictures??

[Tom C]

25% buyer premium is alot. or 20% over $50K

[Capt. E]

The F4 is pretty nice looking as well. Probably low on that as well.

[BradKlein]

Darryl, If I am able to stop by the auction tomorrow, I will try and snap a few pictures for you, but I don't think I'll get much access on auction day. Certainly won't manage the detail that would be needed to really document the present day finish and color.

If nothing else, the instrument has had the headstock scroll repaired, and the binding and finish work that would accompany that. At least so it appears to me.

[Greg Stec]

What they went for.....

Lot 56, Sale 2033, New York, Rockefeller Plaza
GIBSON MANDOLIN-GUITAR COMPANY
A MANDOLIN, STYLE F-5, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1927
...price realized
$60,000
[ME:Cheap, IMHO]

Lot 60, Sale 2033, New York, Rockefeller Plaza
GIBSON MANDOLIN-GUITAR COMPANY
A MANDOLIN, STYLE F-4, KALAMAZOO, MI., CIRCA 1917
...price realized
$4,750

Lot 117, Sale 2033, New York, Rockefeller Plaza
THE GIBSON MANDOLIN-GUITAR COMPANY
A MANDOLIN, F-2, KALAMAZOO, MI., CIRCA 1916
...
$3,750

[Glassweb]

i guess with the "buyer's privilege" added that Fern went for almost $75K. that's about right for an auction price given today's current economic chill... anyone else have some thoughts on this?

[Glassweb]

[QUOTE=K5player;587807]What they went for.....

Lot 56, Sale 2033, New York, Rockefeller Plaza
GIBSON MANDOLIN-GUITAR COMPANY
A MANDOLIN, STYLE F-5, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1927
...price realized
$60,000
[ME:Cheap, IMHO]

Whoops... I stand corrected... $60K was the FINAL price after all fees... now that's quite a steal - yow!

[delsbrother]

Wow, a previously unknown (I think) Knutsen harp guitar went for $813.

[ohhim]

[QUOTE=Glassweb;587835]

What they went for.....

Lot 56, Sale 2033, New York, Rockefeller Plaza
GIBSON MANDOLIN-GUITAR COMPANY
A MANDOLIN, STYLE F-5, KALAMAZOO, MI., 1927
...price realized
$60,000
[ME:Cheap, IMHO]

Whoops... I stand corrected... $60K was the FINAL price after all fees... now that's quite a steal - yow!

I don't think so, as according to the FAQ: "The successful bidder is required to pay a buyer's premium, a percentage on top of the final bid price or hammer price".

Here, it would be $14,500 on top of the $60,000 quote (for a total of $74,500). You'd pay 25% on the first $50,000 (of $12,500) + 20% of the next $10,000 (of $2,000).

So the final prices for the other two would be about $5940 for the F4, and $4687 for the F2.

[Glassweb]

I was told by a very reputable dealer who was at the auction that the final, realized price for the Fern, including all fees, was $60K. That's all I know.